Landrieu bill bans some religion-based fund cuts

Last Modified: Friday, July 12, 2013 1:30 AM

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu
has introduced a bill to forbid the federal government from withholding
money from
programs whose participants engage in voluntary religious activity
after a group that requires church attendance lost $30,000.

Landrieu introduced the Freedom to Pray act
Thursday. The Louisiana Democrat has been working on it for a year since
learning
from a constituent that the Young Marines program in Bossier
Parish might lose federal money because of what Landrieu described
as voluntary prayer and "the mention of God in the program."

During that time, the U.S. Department of Justice withdrew a $30,000 grant.

The Young Marines of the Marine Corps
League, a national group, describes itself as a youth education and
service program
for boys and girls from 8 years old through high school, focusing
on character building, leadership, and a healthy, drug-free
lifestyle, according to its national website. It's the focus of
the U.S. Marine Corps' anti-drug program, it said.

The website states that each member must
agree to "keep myself clean in mind by attending the church of my faith"
and to pledge
that "I shall never do anything that would bring disgrace or
dishonor upon my God, my Country and its flag, my parents, myself
or the Young Marines."

Under the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of religion, those requirements put it over the line as far as receiving
federal money, said Marjorie Esman, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Louisiana office.

"I think that Landrieu's Freedom to Pray
bill is unnecessary, in that voluntary prayer is always allowed," Esman
said. "The
problem with this Young Marine program is they are required to
swear to God — some god — and to attend church — some church
— which requires them to have one and have a faith. Which is where
the problem lies, and Sen. Landrieu's bill will not solve
this problem."

But in a teleconference after she introduced the bill, Landrieu said the Young Marines' policy "is not promoting a specific
faith — just requiring belief in something higher than yourself."

"While it's close to the line I think it's
an important line," she said. "This is not promoting a specific
religion. This
is a voluntary program. People don't have to go to this program.
... We want to make clear that while it's important not to
promote a specific religion, it's equally important not to push it
away."

The bill itself would do nothing, Esman said after reading a copy: "It is the First Amendment in statutory form."

But, Esman said, "It's a good thing that her comment is not part of the bill itself. Her comment, if it were, would be mandating
religion. Fortunately, what she says she's doing is not what the bill actually does."

The Young Marines' requirement for church attendance would exclude athiests or make them act against their belief, she said.
"And that is a violation of the First Amendment."

And, while nobody has to join any group, she said, "the federal government cannot support a group that, as a condition of
participation, mandates religious activity. That is where the violation occurs."

About 10,000 children and teens and 3,000 adult volunteers participate in 300 units in 46 states, the District of Columbia,
Germany and Japan, according to the Young Marines website.

The contingent run by the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office has served about 1,000 students, according to Landrieu.

Asked about the church attendance requirement, sheriff's office spokesman Bill Davis said the sheriff's office does not require
church membership for Young Marines. "The members learn five creeds as part of the Young Marines National Program, one of
which is, 'Keep myself clean in mind by attending the church of my faith.' How they carry out that creed is their choice,"
he said in an email.

In 10 years, he said, the question of atheism and church attendance has never come up. "It still boils down to their own faith,
no matter what that faith may or may not be," he wrote.

Landrieu's news release said participants
learn "military history, close-order drills and physical fitness, among
other important
life skills," and are taught by "caring adult mentors who are
committed to providing them with a safe place to develop and
grow with special emphasis on the love of God and fidelity to our
country."

Landrieu said many programs to help people get over alcohol or drug abuse or deal with other problems get federal money without
"threat of losing government funding for voluntary prayer and for acknowledgment that God exists."

The Times of Shreveport reported that Sheriff Julian Whittington was greeted with loud applause and shouts of "Amen" when
he told the 27th graduating class on June 29 that he would not remove God from the program.

Sen. David Vitter and Rep. John Fleming, both Republicans, released a statement Thursday calling the Justice Department's
action religious censorship.

"This administration knows no end to its attacks on religious freedom," said Fleming. "The Department of Justice is trying
to pull the plug on a successful youth program in Bossier Parish because students are allowed a moment of silence in which
they may choose to pray before each class."

Vitter said, "It's deplorable that the administration is discriminating against this laudable program to help Louisiana youth
just because they mention God."

Landrieu said she has been trying to work
this out with the Justice Department for more than a year. "They keep
citing regulations
and we keep saying we think the law is pretty clear."

"I think this is in line with the Marines of the United States," she said. "This is the Young Marine program — in line with
the values of the Marines."

U. S. Sen. Mary Landrieu has done a great service to our country, the youth of America, it's families, and every law abiding citizen. The rest of the Senators should stand up for, and with her now.
America needs more people like her to help families raise children that have Biblical, patriotic, and moral training.Ralph